I don't really hate flats. Maybe because they always came in clusters between long, no flat periods. About when they reached "major annoyance" level I would enter another no flat period.

One I'll always remember. My Torelli, the only brand new bike in many years. Had only done a few short rides making adjustments. I was on my way to work, to show her to my fellow bike nerds when I heard a click, click. Looked down and saw a screw head centered in my front tire! Very high on the annoyance scale.

I just went through my fleet and pitched all the old tubes. Some had more than 5 patches, so I've had my share. Don